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K.M. Collins

A native Oregonian, K.M. Collins is a geologist-gone-writer. Covering everything outdoors and a spectrum of journalism, she's a jack of all whitewater sports and her favorite beat is anything river related. Don't blow her cover as a freshwater mermaid amongst humans.
Posted inOutside

It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane! Nope, It’s a Shero!

Kerry Sheehan is a TikTok sensation with a ski obsession
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Shero definition, via Webster’s Dictionary: A woman admired or idealized for her courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities; a heroine. Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, Kerry Sheehan, Mt. Bachelor ski instructor and nanny, has seen exponential progress in her Woodward park […]

Posted inSpecial Issues & Guides

Neighborhoods: Sisters—Great Views, Awesome People

An active and creative community with plenty of charm to be found
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For those looking for a quieter life than Bend affords, Sisters’ small-town charm combined with its cultural wealth make it an amazing place to live. Home to the Sisters Folk Fest and the Sisters Quilt Show, the town attracts creatives, retirees, cowpokes and those looking to escape city life for something far more serene. An […]

Posted inSpecial Issues & Guides

Neighborhoods: East Side Promenade

A bike route through the Larkspur neighborhood offers hidden adventure
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From my front door on NE Lotus Drive, adjacent to Pilot Butte, there’s a paved bikeable foot path that tracks all the way to Reed Market Road, straight through the heart of the Larkspur neighborhood—no stop lights and very few street crossings. Its two variations are known as Larkspur and Coyner Trails, however, I informally […]

Posted inSpecial Issues & Guides

Neighborhoods: Borderlands—Adventures Between Orchard & Mountain View

From desirable close-in locations and parks to views and food carts, life is good on the east side
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On the boundary flanking two east side Bend neighborhoods lies a myriad of all-ages playgrounds—and more importantly, post activity food. With a mix of mid-century homes circling Pilot Butte and newer construction stretching out east, the two neighborhoods still offer some of the most affordable homes in the city. Here’s a rundown of my favorite […]

Posted inNews

Forging the West

Celebrating Oregon’s Black pioneers and modern trail blazers
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Though often omitted from history books, African American people had feet on the ground side by side with early explorers of the Oregon Territory—from Markus Lopius, a “servant” on the Lady Washington in 1788 with Robert Gray, to York, a slave on the Lewis and Clark expedition, to Moses Harris, a free black mountain man […]

Posted inCulture

Couch Country

Experience the thrill from your sofa with these lesser-known outdoor films and videos
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Do you need a recovery day from your extreme winter sports habits [err addictions]? Are you exhausted from playing chicken with reckless drivers on the icy slip-n-slide that constitutes Cascade Lakes Highway this time of year? Have you decided enough is enough with the if-then-else flowchart required to secure a Mt. Bachelor parking pass? Can’t […]

Posted inNews

Coming in Hot: The Return to School for Bend-La Pine Students

Pilots and passengers crash-land in the classroom, with continued COVID detours
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Two weeks into the highly anticipated Central Oregon school reopening (for younger grades) and many are assessing the merits of education exclusively through virtual WebEx lessons versus a part-time classroom experience. Students in grades K-3 in Bend-La Pine Schools returned Jan. 25, with grades 4 and 5 going two days a week starting a week […]

Posted inNews

Pandemadating: Love is a Battlefield

Reports from the trenches of those seeking love in the time of coronavirus
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[Note: Names of those quoted have been changed to protect the identities and privacy of innocent humans seeking love.] The gap between those coupled up going into COVID and those not is as vast as a battlefield, casualties piled high on the latter side. What’s a single lone-star cowpoke to do? Instead of standing in […]

Posted inOutside

Fine Tuning My Love

A Shred Betty fairy tale, in honor of the upcoming V-Day
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Shred Betty, as defined by urbandictionary.com: A cool female snowboarder of exceptional ability.  Roses are red, violets are blue, free refills stacked in the white room, fresh and new. Chocolates are dark, filling is creamy, set back my bindings for turns totally dreamy.  Amethysts are purple, diamonds are icy, untracked faces picking lines so spicy.  […]

Posted inBend Nest

Let’s Get Out There!

Winter Activity Roundup 2021
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If you live in Central Oregon, you know that winter is not a time for hibernating, but a time for getting out in the glistening snowy wonderland. As we jump into the full swing of winter amidst pandemic restrictions, you may be wondering what activities are still on offer for kids in Bend and beyond. […]

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